Choosing a successor among his children must have been one of the most difficult challenges for any emperor, especially for someone like Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty. Kangxi had many sons who survived to adulthood, each one likely harboring their own ambitions for the throne. Despite being a wise and strategic emperor, Kangxi found himself powerless to prevent his children from fighting over the throne. Once the children were old enough and had their sights set on ruling, even a father’s advice seemed futile.
Initially, Kangxi had named his second son, the Crown Prince, to succeed him. However, after the Crown Prince repeatedly disappointed him with his actions, Kangxi was forced to strip him of the title not once, but twice. By the second time, Kangxi had completely given up on him. Traditionally, succession was based on the eldest son, but things had changed in the Qing Dynasty. As a result, Kangxi’s eldest son, Yinzhen, was not automatically the chosen heir.
After the second dethroning of the Crown Prince, the other princes began to see an opportunity to compete for the throne. Among them was Yinzhen, the eldest son. Having grown up in the imperial court, he was not without ambition. Naturally, as the eldest, he felt he was the rightful heir and began to contemplate ways to secure the throne for himself. However, his impatience would ultimately lead to his downfall.
Yinzhen, eager to seize power, boldly proposed to Kangxi that they should have his younger brother, the second prince, executed. Initially, Kangxi had not thought much of his eldest son’s suggestion, but once the words were spoken, they created a deep sense of distrust in Kangxi. To the emperor, this was an unforgivable act of treachery. A father could not bear to see his own son plot against his brothers, and with that, Yinzhen lost the trust of Kangxi forever.
Not only did Yinzhen’s actions cause Kangxi to turn against him, but he also secretly conspired to undermine the second prince. Eventually, his plans were exposed when the third prince reported them to Kangxi. Yinzhen’s involvement in the plot against his brother led to severe punishment. Kangxi, undeterred by any of Yinzhen’s past achievements, had him stripped of his title and imprisoned for life, just like the second prince.
Yinzhen’s impulsiveness and lack of foresight led to his ruin. Had he been more patient and strategic, the outcome of the succession battle might have been very different. After Kangxi’s death, his successor, Yongzheng, wasted no time in removing anyone who might pose a threat to his rule, including the most prominent of his brothers, the eighth prince.
As for Yinzhen, his fate had already been sealed under Kangxi’s reign. Yongzheng did not take any further action against him, as he had already been confined to a life of imprisonment. For 26 years, Yinzhen remained locked away in isolation, his mind growing more bitter and despairing with each passing day. Eventually, his mental health deteriorated, and he died in confinement.
Five months after Yinzhen’s death, Yongzheng himself passed away, and it was his son, Qianlong, who ascended the throne. When Qianlong became emperor, he reversed the punishments of those who had been purged by Yongzheng, including many of the princes. However, Yinzhen was an exception. Qianlong, though sympathetic, could not intervene on behalf of his uncle. After all, Yinzhen had been personally sentenced by his grandfather, Kangxi, and imprisoned under his authority. For Qianlong, the matter was beyond his reach.
Yinzhen’s story serves as a tragic reminder of how a moment of rashness can alter the course of one’s life. If only he had exercised patience and thought more carefully, his fate may have been very different.
